AT CLEVELAND.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 138, 12 June 1936, Page 7

AT CLEVELAND.

REPUBLICANS MEET.

Ex-President Hoover Speaks

At Convention. "NEW DEAL" CRITICISED. United Press Association. —Copyright. CLEVELAND, June 11. At an early hour this morning the Republican committee had completed its draft of a platform ostensibly satisfactory to all sides. The draft then was transmitted by telephone to Mr. Landon at Topeka, Kansas, for his final approval before submission to the convention, "as undoubtedly he will be the party's candidate" in the words of a member of the committee. In the convention liall last evening, the appearance of the fci'ier President, Mr. Herbert Hoover, introduced the first genuine ingredient of excitement to the proceedings. After the delegates had cheered him to the echo for 15 minutes he launched a harsh and bitter attack on the New Deal and uttered a solemn exhortation to Republicans to "come to the rescue of the nation." Continuing, Mr. Hoover said: "In this room rests the- greatest responsibility that has come to a body of Americans in three generations. To some people the New Deal appears to be a strange interlude in American history because it has no philosophy, because it is sheer opportunism, because it is a muddle of spoils, a system of emotional economics and reckless adventure, of unctuous claims to a monopoly of human sympathy, of greed for power and desire for popular acclaim. That is not a charitable view. "To other people, the New Deal appears to be a cold-blooded attempt by starry-eyed boys to infect the American people by a mixture of European ideas flavoured with our native predilection to get something for nothing. For the first time in the history of America we have heard the gospel of class hatred preached from White House. That is a human poison far more deadly than fear. Every reader of the history of democracy knows that it is the final rock on which all democracies have been wrecked." Strong Rally to Hoover. The convention rallied strongly to Mr. Hoover. It had not had anyone else to cheer so far and there is little prospect of having anyone, Although during the day and evening the strength of Mr. Landon continued to grow—additional State delegations indicating that they intend to vote for him—it is a commonly acknowledged fact that Mr. Landon is virtually an unknown figure in his own party. He has said little and has declined repeatedly to make any declaration of liis opinion on controversial issues. Except for the fact -hat his personal fortune comes from the petroleum business there is scant information available as to his background.

As for Mr. W. E. Borah, lie has not even appeared at the convention so far, being content to remain in liis hotel "dickering" for support or making threats.

Consequently, to the delegates, and even to the spectators, Mr. Hoover represented a cause, even if a lost one. As lie completed liis speech, a heavy thunderstorm caused the steel rafters of the hall to crackle ominously and to give startling emphasis to his concluding words. Mr. Hoover said: "Republicans and fellow Americans, this is your call to stop the retreat in a chaos of doubt, confusion and fear. Your's is the task to command the turning of the eyes of your fellow Americans to the sunlight of freedom, to lead the attack to retake and reman the citadels of liberty. "Thus can America be preserved, thus can the opportunity, the inheritance and the spiritual future of your children be guaranteed, and thus you can win the gratitude of posterity and be able to sing 'almighty God'." "We Want Hoover." After nearly half an hour's cheering, fipon the former President leaving the rostrum, the delegates from the floor began an impromptu chant, of "We want Hoover," which the chairman's gavel was able to drown out only with difficulty. The Californian delegation raised its banner and began an ecstatic march around the hall. Finally, the chairman made himself heard above the clamour saying: "Mr. Hoover has left the hall. He had to catch a train to go to New York." However, the delegates were not so easily satisfied. Tliey continued to make a tremendous noise and broke into "Onward Christian Soldiers." » No account of the day's- proceedings would be complete without the inclusion of the fact of the arrival of a number of members of the Oxford Group, under the leadership of the Rev. | Frank Buchman. They had just concluded a long meeting at Stockbridge, Massachusetts, and came to Cleveland "to put the thoughts of the delegates on God."

A COUNTER SHOT. Mr. Roosevelt Has Tilt at Republicans. START ON "SPEAKING TRIP." (Received 10 a.m l NEW YORK, June 11. President. Roosevelt took some of the spot-light away from the Republican Convention yesterday when, in an address at Lit'tle Rock, Arkansas, he reiterated his plea for a broader interpretation of tlie Constitution, and obliquely .attacked the Supreme Court. Tlie occasion was the centennial celebration of the admission of Arkansas to tlie Union. In a historical review of how the Mississippi Valley territory was acquired by the United States, Mr. Roosevelt pointedly remarked that the Missouri purchase of 1803 was not "carried to the Supreme Court." Without suggesting a constitutional amendment, he insisted that it should be broad enough to allow legislation necessary to safeguard human welfare under modern conditions. Before the President left Washington he said his south-western speaking "trip would be devoted to nofi-politicaf subjects. Consequently, these remarks came as something of a surprise. Mr. Roosevelt will visit Texas, where the centennial observation of that State's independence from Mexico is in progress, and en route to Washington lie will speak again at Vincenues, Indiana. '